United News of Bangladesh

A delegation of Asian Development Bank (ADB) led by its President Masato Kanda met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday morning. The meeting was held at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon, said a release issued by the PM’s press wing.

Three more children died in Sylhet showing symptoms of measles in the past 24 hours, raising the death toll in the division to 55. Of the deceased, one was from Doarabazar in Sunamganj (14 months old), one from Sylhet Sadar (8 months old) and one from Moulvibazar Sadar (4 months old). One of the children died at Dr Shahid Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital in Sylhet, while two others died at MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, according to the latest report from the Sylhet Divisional Office of the Directorate General of Health Services. Officials said the total number of deaths from measles and measles-like symptoms in the Sylhet division has reached 55 as of Monday morning. Of these, four were confirmed measles deaths, while the rest were reported with similar symptoms. Sources said 58 new patients were admitted to various hospitals in Sylhet with measles or measles-like symptoms in the past 24 hours. A total of 270 patients are currently undergoing treatment in different hospitals in the division. Meanwhile, five more children tested positive for measles in laboratory tests in the past 24 hours in the division.

With Eid-ul-Azha approaching, Dhaka’s cattle markets are witnessing a growing rush of buyers and sellers as the capital prepares for one of Bangladesh’s largest seasonal economic activities driven by the Qurbani livestock trade. Traders said adequate sacrificial animals have already arrived in the city from different districts, while authorities and market management committees claim sufficient preparations have been taken to ensure smooth trading in the designated cattle markets across the capital. Visiting three of the city’s cattle markets (haats), UNB learned medium-sized cattle priced between Tk 1 lakh and Tk 2 lakh are currently dominating buyer demand, as many city residents are planning to sacrifice jointly with family members, neighbours or friends. Cattle from districts including Kushtia, Chuadanga, Rajshahi, Pabna, Sirajganj, Faridpur, Jashore and Dinajpur are being displayed at the city’s temporary and permanent cattle markets.

At least 15 people were killed and six others injured as a truck carrying iron rods overturned on the eastern side of the Jamuna Bridge at Saratail in Kalihati upazila of Tangail early Monday. The identities of the victims could not be known immediately, said Fauzia Habib Khan, additional superintendent of police of Gopalpur Circle. She said the accident occurred around 4:30am when the truck heading towards Northern region from Chattogram overturned, leaving 15 people dead on the spot. The injured were taken to a local hospital for treatment, she said. Police said the victims might have boarded the truck at different points on their way home during the Eid rush. Efforts are underway to identify the deceased.

A gang of criminals attacked RAB and police camps at Jungle Salimpur, an area notorious for criminal activities in Sitakunda upazila in Chattogram, early Monday. Some armed members of the ‘Yasin Bahini’ surrounded the RAB camp and opened fire around 2:30 am, said Lieutenant Colonel Hafizur Rahman, commander of RAB-7. RAB members also returned fire in self-defence, he said. However, it was not immediately known whether anyone was injured in the incident. Later, joint forces launched a search operation in the area. The operation was still underway at the time of filing this report in the morning. Meanwhile, local sources said criminals also attacked the police camp in Alinagar of Jungle Salimpur at the same time. Additional law enforcement personnel were sent to the area and a joint operation is underway. Earlier, on January 19, RAB Deputy Assistant Director Motaleb Hossain was killed in an attack by criminals in the remote jungle area of Salimpur. For over two decades, Jungal Salimpur has served as a stronghold for criminals. Previous attempts to clear the area in 2017 and 2022 failed due to local resistance and other obstacles.

Citizen leaders have called for a special allocation in the national budget to address the growing challenges facing Bangladesh’s coastal regions. They said climate change has put the lives, livelihoods, environment, and biodiversity of people in 19 coastal districts at increasing risk, while recurring natural disasters continue to worsen the situation. They also stressed the need for long-term and coordinated measures to effectively tackle these challenges. The demands were raised at a press conference organised by the Climate Action Forum (CAF)  at the National Press Club on Sunday. The event was chaired by CAF Convener Aminur Rasul Babul, while the keynote paper was presented by Nikhil Chandra Bhadra, Coordinator of the Sundarbans and Coastal Protection Movement. Among those who addressed the event were Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University teacher Mir Mohammad Ali, former Dhaka Reporters Unity President Rafiqul Islam Azad, Executive Director of SERAC Bangladesh SM Soikat, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) Joint Secretary Humayun Kabir Suman, Sachetan General Secretary Sakila Parveen, Leaders National Advocacy Coordinator Shakil Ahmed, and Youth Climate Action Forum Convener Sadia Sultan Shapla, among others, says a press release. Speaking at the press conference, Assistant Professor Mir Mohammad Ali said Bangladesh’s coastal region plays a crucial role in the country’s economy, food security, fisheries, and biodiversity. He noted that the Sundarbans acts as a natural protective barrier for the country and contributes significantly to climate change mitigation through carbon absorption. He also highlighted that shrimp, crab, and marine fish exports make a substantial contribution to foreign currency earnings. However, hesaid the allocation for climate-related initiatives in the national budget remains insufficient compared with actual needs. He added that the lack of separate and targeted planning for coastal areas remains a significant concern and called for stronger government initiatives in this regard. In his presidential remarks, Aminur Rasul said ensuring a special budget allocation for addressing coastal environmental challenges is essential. He stressed the importance of constructing sustainable embankments, ensuring access to safe drinking water, expanding social safety programmes, promoting climate-resilient agriculture and infrastructure, protecting the Sundarbans, and adopting integrated long-term disaster risk management plans. He also urged coordinated efforts among the government, local administration, civil society, and development partners to ensure the protection of coastal communities and their livelihoods. During the press conference, a 21-point demand charter was presented, calling for the formation of a Coastal Development Board to ensure balanced development across the country’s 19 coastal districts through inter-ministerial coordination. The speakers also demanded the establishment of separate offices for the southwest, central, and southeast coastal regions. Other proposals included declaring climate- and disaster-prone areas such as Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Barguna, and Patuakhali as high-risk zones, creating environmentally friendly economic zones, constructing and repairing sustainable embankments, ensuring access to safe drinking water in remote coastal areas, and upgrading cyclone shelters to be more inclusive for women, children, elderly people, and persons with disabilities. They said that, beyond infrastructure development, making homes more disaster-resilient has become an urgent necessity.

Women lawyers in Narayanganj formed a human chain on Sunday demanding punishment for two BNP leaders over the alleged assault on a female lawyer and derogatory remarks about women colleagues. The programme was held around noon on the premises of the Narayanganj District Judge Court under the banner of “General Lawyers”. The protesters demanded action against Narayanganj city BNP member secretary Advocate Abu Al Yusuf Khan Tipu and Advocate Rafiqul Ahmed. Among those present were Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum district unit joint convener Shamsun Noor Bandhan, assaulted lawyer Advocate Amena Akter Shilpi, Advocate Fatema Masud and Advocate Russell Pradhan, among others. Victim lawyer Amena Akter Shilpi alleged that an argument broke out with Advocate Rafiqul Ahmed over the removal of hawkers from the court premises. “At one stage, Rafiqul attacked me. Later, Advocate Abu Al Yusuf Khan Tipu also joined him and punched me,” she claimed. Shilpi said she repeatedly explained that she was not responsible for removing the hawker and that the action had been taken on the orders of the bar association president and secretary. The controversy intensified after Tipu reportedly referred to female lawyers as “dancers” while speaking to media on Saturday. Shamsun Noor Bandhan, urged the bar association leaders and the BNP high command to ensure a fair investigation and swift justice over the matter.

In light of the ongoing regional situation in West Asia, the government of Bangladesh on Sunday symbolically handed over a goodwill consignment of food supplies to the government of Kuwait as a gesture of solidarity and friendship from the people of Bangladesh to the brotherly people of Kuwait. The initiative forms part of a broader support effort under which a total of 240 tons of essential food items from Bangladesh are scheduled to reach Kuwait through multiple flights beginning on May 25, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  Bangladesh thanks Kuwait for safeguarding 3 lakh expatriates Prime Minister's Special Envoy and Adviser on Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir, who is currently visiting Kuwait, formally handed over a letter from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, addressed to Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, conveying heartfelt wishes for the peace, security, and well-being of the people of Kuwait.  On this occasion, a ceremony was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait, where the consignment was symbolically handed over to Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait, by Humaiun Kobir. Bangladesh reaffirmed its commitment to further strengthening the longstanding friendly relations between the two brotherly nations. This contribution is expected to help strengthen Kuwait’s strategic food reserves and support emergency needs amid the prevailing regional circumstances, including the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the resulting pressure on Kuwait’s supply chains. The other members of the three-member high-level delegation from the Government of Bangladesh-State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Rashiduzzaman Millat and the Director General (West Asia) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh - were also present at the ceremony.  The Ambassador of Bangladesh to Kuwait, Major General Syed Tareq Hussain, participated in the delegation’s official engagements, bilateral meetings, and the handover ceremony. During the discussions, the two sides reviewed bilateral relations, the prevailing regional situation, humanitarian cooperation, and other issues of mutual interest.  Both sides expressed satisfaction with the longstanding friendly and brotherly relations between Bangladesh and Kuwait and reiterated their commitment to further expanding cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, manpower, food security, civil aviation, and other promising sectors. The dispatch of this goodwill food consignment by the Government of Bangladesh to the State of Kuwait reflects the deep-rooted fraternal ties between the two countries and demonstrates Bangladesh’s continued commitment to supporting friendly nations during times of regional uncertainty and challenge. Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations based on mutual respect, trust, friendship, and multifaceted cooperation.

On the occasion of Turkish Cuisine Week, Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Ramis Şen on Sunday hosted a dinner for food tasting with the participation of Chefs and General Managers of well-known hotels in Dhaka. The rich Turkish cuisine shaped by millennia of culture, tradition, social heritage, and deep-rooted experience continues to share its unique journey in the world.  Turkish Cuisine Week is celebrated each year from May 21 to 27, both in Türkiye and around the globe, under the auspices of Emine Erdoğan, First Lady of the Republic of Türkiye. This year's Turkish Cuisine Week theme, "The Heritage Table," highlights the stories, memories, culture, traditions as well as heritage embedded in a shared culinary heritage.  It encourages food lovers to remember that it's not only the unique flavours we taste that matter but also the shared heritage on our tables. The week will be celebrated across Türkiye and at Turkish diplomatic missions and cultural centres worldwide.  This year's theme presents Turkish cuisine not just as a set of dishes but as a vibrant, shared cultural heritage developed over centuries through migration, rituals, collective effort, and longstanding traditions at the table.

A court in Meherpur on Sunday sentenced a man to death over raping an 9-year-old girl last year. The convict Shakil Hossain, 24, is the son of Abdal Hossain of Chandpur Dakshinpara village under Gangni upazila. District and Sessions Judge Md Tajul Islam of Meherpur Prevention of Children Repression Tribunal handed down the judgement at noon. Woman found dead in Lalmonirhat; murder after rape suspected The court also fined him Tk 50,000, in default of which he will have to serve six more months of rigorous imprisonment. Advocate Mostafizur Rahman Tuhin represented the state, while Advocate Maruf Ahmed Bijon stood for the accused. Advocate Mostafizur Rahman Tuhin said the case was settled in just 29 working days. “We are satisfied with the verdict,” he added. According to the prosecution, on June 16, 2025, the child was carrying food to her father, who was working in a field, when Shakil took her to a nearby jute field and violated her. Hearing the child's screams, farmers working in nearby fields rushed to the scene, but Shakil managed to flee. Following this, the child's father filed a case with Gangni Police Station.